“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand but because joy is what the earth gives me daily
and I must return the gift.”
( — Robin Wall Kimmerer )
Friends in Justice,
This Friday, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a day to acknowledge the lasting harm of the residential school system, and to reaffirm our ongoing commitment of living into right relations with the indigenous peoples of this land.
Part of that commitment involves continuing to learn and work for justice. There are several opportunities listed in this newsletter. In the spirit of indigenous wisdom, as expressed by Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, let us also continue to work for healing of our wounded world. “Because the relationship between self and world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”
Blessings,
Jane
Alexandra Barr (Justice Assistant and PMR Receptionist) & Jane Dawson (Justice Minister) honour National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in their orange shirts.
LeaderSHIFT welcomes Rev. Murray Pruden, National Executive Minister for Indigenous Ministries & Justice United Church of Canada to this September 28th conversation.
Understanding Each Other – The Indigenous Church
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL INDIGENOUS MINISTRIES & JUSTICE UNIT, WITH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MINISTER, REV. MURRAY PRUDEN
10-11:30am Pacific / 11am-12:30pm Mountain
Wednesday September 28, 2022
Online Only, Via Zoom
Sign Up for the Zoom Link Here
Murray will help us see the potential for the future as we live out the newly emerging Indigenous Church structure and walk together on this path self-determination and equity. All are welcome, and we hope you are able to share this morning with us! Learn a little more about the event and Rev. Murray Pruden here.
Truth & Reconciliation Service
We commemorate this Truth and Reconciliation Day with a moment of silence for those who died in the Residential School genocide.
Online, via Youtube.
11am Pacific / 12pm Mountain.
Service will be live at this link.
Online Panel with Interdenominational Indigenous Clergy for Truth and Reconciliation Day
September 30, 2022
7pm Pacific / 8pm Mountain
Online via Zoom
Register here.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY RESOURCESCheck out the United Church website for activities and events to mark this day, including a powerful new prayer for you to use in worship.
NEWS
B.C. Opioid Crisis Hits Home
At the PMR General Meeting in June, a proposal was passed that “the Pacific Mountain Region and its communities of faith recognize worship, discipleship, and community formation as essential in solving the disastrous opioid crisis.” As the PMR Executive discerns our response to this proposal, the opioid crisis continues to take its toll. Sometimes this happens close to home, as in the following announcement from a PMR community of faith.
Sadly, a man passed away on our church steps early on Wednesday morning, despite the efforts of first responders to revive him. We mourn the loss of one more precious life on our perilous streets. We redouble our advocacy for housing, harm reduction and mental health supports for all our citizens.
Let us join in mourning for those most impacted by the current crisis. Let us also explore ways of coming together to take action. Four ways that you can help:
- Join Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) a national network that advocates for the change of failed drug policies, provides peer support to grieving families, and assists those with loved ones who use or have used substances (https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/)
- Read Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis, find the book here.
- Write to your Member of Parliament to support Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (example of a letter template: https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/letter-support-bill-c-216)
- Learn about Online Naloxone Training here
From the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre:
Listen in as Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre’s Adrian Jacobs engages elders from across Turtle Island in conversation on today’s current events.
Details & access through this link.
Join us for the launch of David Kim-Cragg’s book, Water from Dragon’s Well: The History of a Korean-Canadian Church Relationship, on Monday, October 3 at 4pm Pacific.
The launch is online and free.
Kim-Cragg is both a sessional lecturer at Emmanuel College and minister at St. Matthew’s United Church in Richmond Hill. Register by clicking here.
Decolonizing climate action is the theme underscoring Kairos’ 4th annual Climate Action Month, which launched September 1 and coincides with the Season of Creation.
KAIROS has a variety of programming available for September, which can be found at this link.
Road to COP27: Fall Webinar Series
For the Love of Creation (FLC) will be sponsoring two young women to join a global delegation to the 27th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The delegation is organized by KAIROS, with UN accreditation from the United Church of Canada. Tia Kennedy and Yusra Shafi each impressed the interviewers with their commitment to climate action, Indigenous rights and the sustainable development goals, and their demonstrated ability to mobilize a variety of means of communicating on these issues.
While the delegates are busy preparing to travel, For the Love of Creation calls on each of you to join FLC on the Road to COP27, by praying, learning, acting and advocating together over the course of three webinars and beyond.
Tuesday evenings online at from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
- October 4 | Road to COP 27: Spirit & Justice
- October 11 | Road to COP 27: Spirit & Change
- October 18 | Road to COP 27: Spirit & Solidarity
I Wanna Come Home
Gloria Snow is a UCC Candidate and student at VST in the Indigenous ministry program, walking across Canada to bring the 215+ home:
She stated, “The project is a four-year commitment to touch 🌊the oceans in four directions and until all the babies are found, honoured and laid to rest with ceremony and prayers 🙏🏽🙏🏽🦅🦅🧡🧡 and to raise awareness for the children.”
Her gofundme can be found here, and her facebook page about her walk across Canada here.
Global Food Crisis Learning and Advocacy in Action – What You Can Do!
Global conflict and climate change are leading causes of the rise in the number of people experiencing hunger today. In response to this crisis, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is currently advocating the Canadian government to take action in support of more climate resilient food systems for farmers in the Global South.
Here are two opportunities within PMRC where you can learn more and help support this initiative:
September 28, 2022, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Crossroads United Church, Delta (in-person)
- Global Food Security and Letter-writing – Crossroads United Church
October 4, 2022, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. – Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver (Zoom)
- Global Food Crisis Learning and Advocacy in 90 Minutes! – contact Jane Dawson or Rev. Deb Walker for the Zoom link.
For more ways to support this initiative click on this link or the poster above.
Also from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank & Until All Are Fed – ecumenical resources, for October 16, World Food Day, found at this page.
EVENTS
It’s not too late to register for Faithful Climate Conversations!
Two dates still remain:
- Today, September 26, from 7-9pm Pacific: Creation, Climate & You
- Tomorrow, September 27, 10am-noon Pacific: Build a Better Future
Register for either or both, and find out more, at this link!
40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism
Would you like to be part of a weekly online study group, focused on anti-racism? The groups will meet once a week for 1.5 hours each time.
These weekly study sessions offer an additional opportunity to participate in the United Church of Canada’s 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism, as part of a group. The 40 Days will be a time of rich learning, reflection and action.
Details & registration here.
Join the Pacific Mountain Justice Network’s live webinar to learn how the Faithful Footprings program can benefit your church!
Just Conversations is back!
Taking place the 3rd Thursday of the month, 10am Pacific / 11am Mountain
Upcoming dates in 2022: Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15
Register here!
Racial Justice Workshops One and Two
Fall Dates are available for Racial Justice Sessions Workshops One and Two:
- Racial Justice Workshop Session One (for White People) – October 1
- Racial Justice Workshop Session Two (for White People) – October 1
- Racial Justice Workshop Session One (for White People) – November 8
- Racial Justice Workshop Session Two (for White People) – November 10
Save the Date for Fall Affirming Leaders Day!
Online via Zoom, more details at this link.
OPPORTUNITIES IN JUSTICE
Come and See Pilgrimage to Palestine & Israel
Rev. Marianna Harris and George Bartlett are organizing a Come and See for March 2023. Come on a pilgrimage to see for yourself what is happening in Palestine and Israel. Visit key holy places while reflecting on God’s vision of peace and shalom.
Please contact them (Rev. Marianna Harris, holymom1@shaw.ca or George Bartlett, g.bartlett@sympatico.ca) if you are interested and share this opportunity.
CONTACT US
If you’re interested in the work of the Justice Ministries, we would love to hear from you.Have you come across articles and events in our community that you’d love to share? Please get your suggestions in by Thursday at noon to ensure they make it in the newsletter.
Want to subscribe? Click here, and check off the box labeled ‘JUSTICE NETWORK’.